Gear Guy

Grivel G20

I do a lot of ice and mixed climbing in rocky areas of New England. What are the best crampons for me?

At 28 ounces, the $215 Grivel G20 crampon is probably the lightest you want to go for technical mixed and ice climbing. It has a compact, laser-cut monopoint in front for such terrain, and all 11 points are made from chromoly steel. To fit a variety of boot types, Grivel’s Cramp-O-Matic binding is fully adjustable, and the anti-balling plate at the heel (a flexible plastic sheet that prevents snow buildup) keeps you safe even when approaching the climb.